Molly was clearing table five of some empty glasses when she spied Rose approaching, her face hard and determined. She straightened up and sat the tub of dishes down and hurried over to open the door for the pale young woman,who she had seen leave not even an hour ago. She hadn't expected her back so soon.
"Rosie, you're back darlin. You look like you've just come back from something intense," Molly greeted as Rose entered.
"I have," was Rose's flat reply. She had not allowed herself to think about what had just happened on the way back to Molly's. She was determined not to second guess herself. She had just done what she should have done a long time ago. If she second guessed her decision and turned back, she could kiss any future with Jack and any sense of freedom goodbye. That was something that she was not willing to do.
Molly tsked as she lead Rose to one of the empty booths. "Come on in and have a seat. I'll get you a piece of pie and you can tell me all about it."
Not saying a word, Rose did as Molly directed. She was afraid to think about what had happened, afraid that fear and maybe even regret would take over if she thought about it too much. She knew that she had done the right thing by walking away the way she had. Her mother and Cal, they were insisting on ruling her life and ruining what she had with Jack. There was no other choice but to leave.
It took only a few minutes for Molly to slice two slices of cherry pie and join Rose at the last booth that had been cleared for the evening. Sliding one plate in front of Rose and placing the other down for herself, Molly took a seat.
"Now, tell me all about it. What's going on, darlin?"
Rose sighed and took a deep breath, gathering up her thoughts. She was still shocked that it had happened so quickly. "They found the letters that Jack had written to me...mother and Cal. They went through my things and found the letters…"
"What? My goodness, what did they say?" Molly blinked in shock. She knew that Rose's mother was a controlling piece of work, but she had never thought the woman would invade Rose's privacy like that.
"The expected. That I was not to write Jack again. That I was to cut off contact with him and marry Cal. She cared nothing about how I felt about the matter, of course. She could care less that I was miserable with Cal and that Jack's letters were the only bit of happiness I had. All that mattered was her standing in high society and Cal's money. My happiness was just an obstacle..."
"Oh Rose," Molly sighed, feeling sad for her young friend. She had long hoped that Ruth would see how she was hurting her daughter and would rectify the situation before it was too late. But by all look of things, too late was here.
"She told me that as long as I lived under her roof, I was to do what she said. So I decided not to live under her roof anymore and just walked away. I didn't even look back..."
"God almighyt," Molly tsked, placing a hand over Rose's. "Darlin, are you sure that this is a wise decision. He's a good looking young man and sweet, but he's a soldier and..."
"Even if there was no Jack, I would have still left, Molly. I can't marry Cal. Not before Jack and definitely not after. Besides….I am in love with Jack. I couldn't marry Cal now. Not even if I wanted to. I know, I know. I only know him through letters...but those letters...they showed me his soul...and when I spend time with him...he's even more wonderful. I won't let my mother and her ambitions get in the way of what Jack and I have. Yes, he's a soldier...but wars don't last forever."
"No, they don't last forever. But young men do die in wars too, Rosie. Are you prepared if that should happen? If you throw everything away, all you will have is Jack...and if the war takes him...you won't have anything at all. Are you prepared for that?"
Molly hated being the gloomy one, but she needed Rose to understand what she had just walked away from and how uncertain the future was now. If only this war didn't exist...but it did and Rose had to prepare herself for the worse, if it should happen.
"I never did have anything, Molly. Not until Jack. I didn't even have my dreams...but now I do. If the worse happens...I will grieve...but I'll still be free to live my life and make it count for both of us. Before Jack, I didn't even have that option. Before...my dreams didn't matter. But now they do and they always will...even if I lose him..."
"I just want you to be aware of what you're doing."
"I am. I promise that I am. I'm just in shock right now. I hadn't been expecting things to reach this point so quickly..."
"Neither did I," Molly chuckled, giving Rose's hand an affectionate squeeze. "Well...I can't have you staying up there with the dreamboat. Your leaving Hockley will be enough of a scandal. I'll just set up a cot in the back for you. You can stay there."
"Thank you, Molly. I really appreciate this...I better go fill Jack in on what happened."
"Speak of the devil, or should I say angel?" Molly smirked as Jack appeared. He had felt a little hungry and had decided to come down and see if he could purchase something to eat while he waited for Rose's return. His eyes lit up with happiness as he saw Rose there.
"Rose, you're back," He grinned, unaware of Rose's news.
If Rose had any doubts or regrets, they all melted away at the sight of that warm smile. She was now more sure than ever that she had done the right thing. "I'm back for good, actually."
"I'll go fix your young man a sandwich. Poor thing is skin and bones," Molly winked, giving Rose's hand another squeeze.
Actually, Rose thought he was rather perfect, but she just smiled at Molly and gave a small nod as Jack joined her in the booth.
"Did something happen?" Jack questioned. Judging from the serious vibes he got from the room when he entered, he had a feeling that something had changed for Rose.
"Yes. I...I walked out on my mother and Cal. I...I kind of walked away from my life. Mother had found your letters and confronted me. She tried to forbid me from writing to you again and tried to get me to reinstate the engagement to Cal…."
"Oh my god, does she know that I'm here for the week?"
"No. I didn't want to tell her anything more about you and our relationship than was necessary. I mean...I know it sounds silly...but what I have with you...it's private. Something to share with only the people I trust the most, like Molly...you know?"
"I understand."
"It's not that I'm ashamed. I am far from that. It's just….you're special to me Jack. I found you for myself. You're not someone that my mother had introduced me to or arranged a meeting with..."
"What happened after she made her demands?"
"She made the mistake of stating that as long as I live under her roof, that I was to do what she said. So I decided not to live under her roof any longer. I walked out. I left her and that life behind."
Jack chuckled and shook his head, not surprised at all. From the moment he had met her, he had seen a fire in her and knew that no one would be able to control her. Not for long anyway. "That's my girl."
"Your girl?" Rose playfully arched a brow, feeling playful
"Yeah, my girl. That is what you are now, right?"
Rose laughed and grabbed his hand. "You know, before you...I never once even thought of considering myself to be anyone's girl...but now...now I want nothing more than to be your girl."
He smiled and lifted her hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss on the back. "Now I know that I have the month of May."
Rose simply laughed and shook her head. "You are silly."
"So...what are you going to do now, now that you've left all of that behind? My offer to share the apartment still stands..."
"That won't be necessary. Molly's going to sit up a cot in the back here. Leaving Cal is going to be enough of a scandal. Having two unmarried young people living together...well...it's for the best for everyone if we keep our sleeping quarters separate...for now..."
Jack had to admit that he was a little disappointed. A part of him had wanted a week of just him and Rose in a little hideaway and the apartment would have been perfect for that...but he understood Rose's reasoning. This may not be 1912 anymore, but people were still stuck on certain morals.
"Well, at least you won't be so far away, right?"
"Right," Rose sighed, finding herself getting lost in his eyes, so clear and blue. He definitely was too handsome for this world.
"Alright, I have a burger and fries for the dreamboat, and Rose your cot is all ready for ya," Molly winked, returning with a plate of food for Jack and a wink for Rose. "So any idea what you guys are going to do now that you have a whole week together with no worries?"
Jack's smile was bright and happy. "Yeah. We're gonna make each day count."